More than a year ago, Afghan President Hamid Karzai broke ground on
the reconstruction of a highway that -- when completed -- will run
through the heart of Afghanistan, helping to unify that great nation.
The United States and Japan pledged to provide financing and personnel
to the project, and we further pledged that the first leg -- the 300
miles from the capital of Kabul to the important city of Kandahar --
would be completed by the end of this year.

Today, we have met that pledge, as the first phase of paving the
Kabul-Kandahar leg of the highway is completed under budget and ahead
of schedule. This new road reduces travel time between Kabul to
Kandahar to five hours. It will promote political unity between
Afghanistan's provinces, facilitate commerce by making it easier to
bring products to market, and provide the Afghan people with greater
access to health care and educational opportunities.

I am grateful for the enormous efforts of engineers and laborers
from many countries who worked tirelessly, and often in the face of
hardship and danger, to finish this leg of the road on time. This
accomplishment underscores the firm commitment of the United States and
coalition to support the Afghan people as they build a democratic,
stable, and thriving Afghanistan.